Why Gold?
Gold has been a store of value for thousands of years and is particularly popular among Chinese investors. In Australia, you can invest in gold through physical bullion, ETFs, or mining stocks. Gold typically performs well during inflation, economic uncertainty, and currency weakness — making it a portfolio diversifier.
Ways to Invest
Physical gold: Buy bars or coins from the Perth Mint, ABC Bullion, or authorised dealers. Store in a safe, bank deposit box, or Perth Mint's allocated storage. Gold ETFs: GOLD (ASX-listed, backed by physical gold at the Perth Mint), PMGOLD (Perth Mint Gold). Trade like shares, no storage worries. Gold mining stocks: Newcrest (now Newmont), Northern Star, Evolution Mining. Higher risk but potential for dividends and leverage to gold price.
Tax Treatment
Physical investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity) is GST-free in Australia. Capital gains tax applies when you sell at a profit. Hold for 12+ months for the 50% CGT discount. Gold ETFs are treated like shares for tax purposes. Keep records of purchase prices and dates for all gold investments.
Perth Mint
Australia's premier gold institution. Guaranteed by the Western Australian Government. Offers: physical bars and coins (from 1g to 1kg), allocated and unallocated storage accounts, GoldPass app for buying/selling gold digitally. Minimum investment from $50 via GoldPass. Reputable, government-backed, and accessible — ideal for Australian gold investors.